First Time Ordering From Mandarake

Okay, I just placed a rather large order at Mandarake and am kind of nervous. I have no clue as to what I was doing. I didn't receive an email from them at first but then I noticed that they are not compatible with AOL. So I went back in and put my ATT email address. I did now recieve a confirm so now I am just waiting. How many of you have ordered with Mandarake? Are they fast? I forgot to check EMS which is what I am familiar with and now I see it will ship DHL...is that good? Confused and concerned, LOL

They are generally very quick with emails. I've gotten emails within hours at night (their daytime), so you should hear within a day or two. Never used DHL, so can't help you with that.

DHL is just a courier like UPS and FedEx, their service is reliable and fast.

 

I've ordered from Mandarake COUNTLESS times. Did you order many things from the same store? I find Nakano is always the fastest to get back to me with confirmation while Shibuya is the slowest. If they have an item out of stock they'll let you know and quote you your shipping for the items that are available and stuff.

DHL is Part of the World's Leading Logistics Group, Deutsche Post DHL

http://www.dhl.com/en/about_us/company_portrait.html

 

Should be as realiable as German cars

DHL is Part of the World's Leading Logistics Group, Deutsche Post DHL

http://www.dhl.com/en/about_us/company_portrait.html

 

Should be as realiable as German cars

 

Careful now! Some German cars are not very reliable!!!! XD

But they were from East Germany. Long time ago

Pheww! Thanks guys I feel better now....Here is hoping the order goes through. I was reading that sometimes storefront items are not available ......hope this isn't the case.

 

PlasticFantastic~ I only ordered one item from Nakano store I think it was.....

 

Kumi~Thanks for DHL link!!!!

Pheww! Thanks guys I feel better now....Here is hoping the order goes through. I was reading that sometimes storefront items are not available ......hope this isn't the case.

 

PlasticFantastic~ I only ordered one item from Nakano store I think it was.....

 

Kumi~Thanks for DHL link!!!!

 

Sometimes the items sell out so you'll have to wait until you get your confirmation. I hope it's in stock and you can have it!!!

 

Sometimes the items sell out so you'll have to wait until you get your confirmation. I hope it's in stock and you can have it!!!

 

OMG, me too. I have wanted her for a long time....one of my DD Unicorns

 

Sometimes the items sell out so you'll have to wait until you get your confirmation. I hope it's in stock and you can have it!!!

 

OMG, me too. I have wanted her for a long time....one of my DD Unicorns

 

Who did you buy??? Or is it a surprise???

I've ordered from them many times, including multiple DDs, with no issues. But . . . Who did you order?

I bought Nanoha from Mandarake and had her shipped DHL. DHL shipping is quite fast; she left Mandarake on Monday afternoon my time, and arrived Thursday afternoon. (Then again I am in the US, where customs officials are evidently ninjas that clear things in ten minutes.)

Ooh, I'm curious too! Finger crossed that you get her~

 

I got Yuki from Mandarake Nakano and I had some trouble with my credit card fraud protection kicking in. They seemed skeptical when I told them that yes I was indeed spending that much at a toy store in Tokyo ^_^;;

So you may want to notify your credit card company in advance if they tend to be protective.

 

Now as for DHL, I'm not a fan. They like to hand over packages to my neighbors if I'm not home. I'm lucky that my neighbors are nice folks, at least, I just hate to bug them 9_9

DHL failed pretty miserably here in the USA. They used to have a real presence here complete with a big fleet of trucks but then they went out of business. The last time I dealt with them about a year ago they were contracting out to small local delivery companies which basically consist of a guy in a generic white van with a magnetic temporary DHL sticker on it. So I expect the quality of their last mile service varies greatly from area to area.

Okay so I just checked my inbox at ATT and I have my invoice. So they had the doll in stock. Now here is what I think is strange...shipping seems so little which has me worried. 4,650 yen for a doll to ship from Japan? Does that seem right? UGH why didn't I notice it said DHL before I clicked confirm.

 

jadedpixel~ I have had those issues in the past but my Amex knows now to expect rather large charges in foreign currency ^_^

 

Poofiemus~ Okay thank you...feel a little better but was your shipping as low as mine?

 

PrettyCranium~ Thank you...feel better now. I ordered Escalayer!!! I have wanted her since I started looking at DD's but her price on eBay and YJ is so ridiculous. I finally got her at a fairly reasonable price. My sister just said "Eww she is hideous" but I have always loved her quirky look!!!

 

scripple~ I totally know that is why I was worried, but it seems other people have had good results so lets hope I do too!!!! *crosses fingers*

That's about right. When I bought my vmf50 girl from there, it was 4000 yen.

That's about right. When I bought my vmf50 girl from there, it was 4000 yen.

Thank you. I was expecting a lot more for some reason!!!!

DHL may have failed here in the US but they seem to be going strong in other parts of the world. I've had a few things delivered by them before and so far they DIDN'T screw anything up on me. So I think you should be ok on that part.

 

And congrats on getting Escalayer! She's a bit different from other DD's for sure but I still think she's really cool. Plus, she's always upbeat and happy! I hope she arrives to you soon and in good shape. Then you can share pics of her!

 

 

Billy

Edited February 21, 2012 by Guest

Congrats on getting Escalayer!!!! She's a real cutie and will make a great addition to your DD family!

 

You shouldn't have any worries with Mandarake everything I've ordered from them has arrived very quickly and no problems. But that has just been PVC figures, I've never ordered a DD with them before. But it should still be the same and she should arrive quickly and good condition to you.

 

As for DHL it's been a very long time since I've had anything delivered by them, most sellers I buy from use USPS, UPS, and FedEx. But from what I can remember when they were the ones to deliver my items everything went smooth.

Okay so I just checked my inbox at ATT and I have my invoice. So they had the doll in stock. Now here is what I think is strange...shipping seems so little which has me worried. 4,650 yen for a doll to ship from Japan? Does that seem right? UGH why didn't I notice it said DHL before I clicked confirm. :

 

Poofiemus~ Okay thank you...feel a little better but was your shipping as low as mine?

 

Yup, that's very near what my shipping was--around 4500 JPY as I recall. And Mandarake's packing was good. Sometimes odd, but definitely effective. (I elaborate on it a bit in Nanoha's arrival post, but essentially they didn't have an ordinary shipping box big enough for her fullset box apparently. So, they wrapped that box in a couple layers of bubble wrap and then collaged together a shipping box with copious amounts of tape. I know it sounds cheap, but since it fit the bubble wrapped box almost exactly it ended up working really well.)

Okay...now I have paid so I am waiting for some kind of email saying they received it. Ahhhhh, I hate ordering with a new place, I get so nervous. I hope they answer me tonight!!!!

 

Thank you baldylox, poofiemus and DefectiveAngel!!!! I feel better

Ah Escalayer! I think she's adorable, congrats

Yeah, my last Mandarake purchase inspired me to get a credit card without foreign transaction fees, should end up saving a lot of money if I keep making Yen purchases like that ^_^;

You have no reason to worry Carmel I'm on my 20somethingth mandarake order and they're DHL shipping is really reliable (in the UK at least) any problems I've had with my orders if you send them pictures then they sort it out right away.

Thank you ladies!!! I appreciate it! I just checked and it says payment received and that she is being shipped!!! Yay!!!!! I will post pics as soon as she arrives!!!!

Oh congrats! I love her cute open mouth! ^_^

 

I'm happy that someone from here snagged an Escalayer, she doesn't seem very common so I'm looking forward to her spicing up our forum with cute pictures~